“In today’s day and age, patriotism seems to be rare, if not extinct, in our society. This is something I do not understand, because I personally gain my patriotism out of pure respect for our American soldiers. They fight for our freedom every single day and hardly ever receive the respect and gratitude that they deserve. Being a soldier takes more than courage, it takes sacrifice – (more) sacrifice that most people could ever dream of. They leave their families to fight for yours. Travis Snyder, the soldier displayed in my art submission, personally made a difference in my life. He showed me strength, and what it is like to always put others before yourself and always fight for what you believe in. There are thousands of soldiers just like Travis who dedicate their lives to our freedom every day, and because of them I can say I am proud to be an American.” – Kristin Donnelly